Lobelia plant named &#39;Sunlobe Torepin&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Lobelia  plant named ‘Sunlobe Torepin’, characterized by its outwardly spreading plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; dense and bushy plant form; freely flowering habit; relatively large violet pink-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

BOTANICAL DESIGNATION

Lobelia erinus

CULTIVAR DENOMINATION

‘SUNLOBE TOREPIN’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Lobeliaplant, botanically known as Lobelia erinus and hereinafter referred toby the name ‘Sunlobe Torepin’.

The new Lobelia plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan. The objective ofthe breeding program is to create new outwardly spreading,freely-branching and bushy Lobelia plants with large attractive flowersand good garden performance.

The new Lobelia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in May, 2010 of a proprietary selection of Lobelia erinusidentified as code number 10Lob31A-1, not patented, as the female, orseed, parent with a proprietary selection of Lobelia erinus identifiedas code number 10Lob31A-2, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent.The new Lobelia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as asingle flowering plant within the progeny of the statedcross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Higashiomi,Shiga, Japan in June, 2011.

Asexual reproduction of the Lobelia plant by vegetative cuttings inHigashiomi, Shiga, Japan since April, 2012 has shown that the uniquefeatures of this new Lobelia plant are stable and reproduced true totype in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Lobelia have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Sunlobe Torepin’. Thesecharacteristics in combination distinguish ‘Sunlobe Torepin’ as a newand distinct Lobelia plant:

-   -   1. Outwardly spreading plant habit.    -   2. Vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Freely branching habit; dense and bushy plant form.    -   4. Freely flowering habit.    -   5. Relatively large violet pink-colored flowers.    -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Lobelia differ primarily from plants of the parentselections in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Lobelia are more freely branching than        plants of the parent selections.    -   2. Plants of the new Lobelia have shorter internodes than plants        of the parent selections.

Plants of the new Lobelia can be compared to plants of Lobelia erinus‘Lobantis’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,198. In side-by-sidecomparisons conducted in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan, plants of the newLobelia differed from plants of ‘Lobantis’ in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Lobelia were more spreading than and not as        upright and mounding as plants of ‘Lobantis’.    -   2. Plants of the new Lobelia were more vigorous than plants of        ‘Lobantis’.    -   3. Plants of the new Lobelia had smaller leaves than plants of        ‘Lobantis’.    -   4. Plants of the new Lobelia had larger flowers than plants of        ‘Lobantis’.    -   5. Plants of the new Lobelia and ‘Lobantis’ differed in flower        color as plants of ‘Lobantis’ had light purple-colored flowers.    -   6. Plants of the new Lobelia had longer and thicker peduncles        than plants of ‘Lobantis’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Lobelia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the actualcolors of the new Lobelia plant. The photograph at the top of the sheetcomprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of‘Sunlobe Torepin’ grown in a container. The photograph at the bottom ofthe sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘SunlobeTorepin’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used for the aforementioned photographs and following descriptionwere grown in 15-cm containers in an outdoor nursery in Higashiomi,Shiga, Japan and under cultural practices typical of commercial Lobeliaproduction. During the production of the plants, day temperaturesaveraged 23° C. and night temperatures averaged 13° C. Plants were fourmonths old when the photographs and description were taken. In thefollowing description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Lobelia erinus ‘Sunlobe Torepin’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Lobelia            erinus identified as code number 10Lob31A-1, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Lobelia            erinus identified as code number 10Lob31A-2, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer and winter.—About one week at            temperatures about 15° C. to 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer and            winter.—About three weeks at temperatures about 15° C. to            20° C.        -   Root description.—Fibrous; white in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; relatively dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Outwardly spreading plant habit;            freely branching habit with lateral branches developing at            potentially every node; dense and bushy plant habit;            vigorous growth habit.        -   Plant height.—About 15 cm.        -   Plant width.—About 54 cm.        -   Lateral branch description.—Length: About 34 cm. Diameter:            About 1.9 mm. Internode length: About 2.2 cm. Strength:            Strong, flexible. Aspect: Outwardly spreading. Texture:            Sparsely pubescent. Color: Close to 138A tinged with close            to 165A.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple; sessile.        -   Length.—About 4 cm.        -   Width.—About 1.5 cm.        -   Shape.—Oblong.        -   Apex.—Obtuse.        -   Base.—Cuneate.        -   Margin.—Serrate.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous; along            the margins, slightly pubescent.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137C.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 138B. Fully            expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137B; venation,            close to 138C. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close            to 138A; venation, close to 138D.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement, habit and shape.—Flowers typically            arranged in terminal and lateral racemes; flowers face            mostly outwardly to slanting downward; freely flowering            habit with about four flowers per inflorescence and about            300 flowers developing per plant; flowers bilabiate with two            upper petals and three larger lower petals.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—In Japan, plants of the new            Lobelia flower continuously from May until October; early            flowering habit, plants begin flowering about three to four            weeks after planting.        -   Flower longevity on the plant.—Longevity of individual            flowers is highly dependent on temperature, flowers            typically last about 10 to 14 days on the plant; flowers            persistent.        -   Inflorescence length.—About 8.2 cm.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 7.7 cm.        -   Flower length.—About 2.3 cm.        -   Flower diameter.—About 2.75 cm.        -   Flower tube length.—About 1.2 cm.        -   Flower tube diameter.—About 5.6 mm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 5.3 mm.            Shape: Club-shaped. Color: Towards the apex, close to 70A;            towards the base, close to 145D.        -   Petals.—Arrangement: Single whorl of five petals fused            towards the base; two upper petals and three larger lower            petals. Upper petals: Length, beyond throat: About 8.4 mm.            Width: About 3 mm. Shape: Spatulate. Apex: Obtuse. Margin:            Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.            Lower petals: Length, beyond throat: About 1.4 cm. Width:            About 9.7 mm. Shape: Elliptic to cordate. Apex: Rounded to            retuse. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:            Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper petals: When opening, upper            and lower surfaces: Close to N81B. Fully opened, upper and            lower surfaces: Close to N81D; color becoming closer to 76B            to 76C with development. Color, lower petals: When opening,            upper surface: Close to N82B; towards the base, close to            N82C. When opening, lower surface: Close to N82D; towards            the base, close to 84D. Fully opened, upper surface: Close            to N81D; color becoming closer to 76B to 76C with            development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to N82D;            towards the base, close to 84D; color becoming closer to 76B            to 76C with development. Color, throat, upper and lower            petals: Close to 76D, spots, close to N78A; nectar guides,            close to N144B. Color, tube, upper petals: Close to 75A.            Color, tube, lower petals: Close to N78C; towards the base,            close to NN155C        -   Sepals.—Arrangement: Single whorl of five sepals, fused at            the base; star-shaped calyx. Length: About 7.6 mm. Width:            About 1.3 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Margin:            Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.            Color: When opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close to            137B. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 137B. Fully            opened, lower surface: Close to 137C.        -   Pedicels.—Length: About 3.5 cm. Diameter: About 0.6 mm.            Strength: Strong, flexible. Texture: Smooth, glabrous.            Color: Close to 137B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Five.            Stamen length: About 9.6 mm. Anther size: About 1.2 mm by            2.6 mm. Anther shape: Elliptic. Anther color: Close to 79B.            Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 4D. Pistils:            Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About 8.8 mm.            Stigma shape: Bi-lobate. Stigma color: Close to 79C. Style            color: Close to 144D. Ovary color: Close to 144B.        -   Fruits and seeds.—Fruit and seed development have not been            observed on plants of the new Lobelia.-   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Lobelia have not been    noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Lobelia    plants.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Lobelia have been observed to    have good garden performance and to tolerate wind, rain and    temperatures ranging from about 5° C. to about 28° C.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Lobelia plant named ‘SunlobeTorepin’ as illustrated and described.